1. Forming and Using Social Perceptions

2. In this chapter you will learn about:
Why we perceive others the way we do
And why our perceptions may be inaccurate
Explore how our social perception helps us to determine our self-concept and self- esteem
And in the end, discuss how we can improve your self-perceptions
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3. Given this situation
Three women walk out of a class, with different views of the same teacher. How is this possible? Who is right? Is this teacher a great lecturer or a diabolical GPA breaker? How can three women walk away from the same class with different ideas as to who this teacher was?
This is called Social Perception, which is the set of processes by which we comprehend who we believe others and ourselves to be

4. The Perception Process
Every second your senses are bombarded with more stimuli than your mind can process
Consequently you pay attention to some and ignore others
Perception: is the process of attending to, organizing, and interpreting the information that we receive through our senses

5. The Perception Process
Our perceptions form our understanding of what for us is real and true
Sometimes our perception of something agrees with that of others. Sometimes it does not.
Another person who has the same sensory input may perceive the same situation entirely different and regard it as real or true

6. There are 3 Stages of Perceiving
Your brain attends to and selects the information or stimuli that it receives from your senses
Then it organizes the stimuli
Then it interprets the stimuli
It does all of this then integrates the new information with previous learning

7. Attention and Selection
Although we are subject to a constant barrage of sensory stimuli, we can focus our attention on relatively little of it
We choose or select stimuli that matter to us based on our needs, interests, and expectations
Needs: Things we consciously or unconsciously feel we require to sustain us biologically or psychologically
Interests: things that prompt our curiosity but are not essential to sustain us biologically or psychologically
Expectations: things we notice because we are accustomed to noticing them

8. Organization
Through the process of attention, we reduce the number of stimuli our brains must process
Our brains arrange these stimuli to make sense, using the organizing principles of simplicity and pattern
Simplicity: the reduction of very complex stimuli to easily recognizable forms
Pattern: the organization of stimuli into easily recognizable patterns or systems of interrelated parts

9. Dual Processing in Perception
Out of everything I have talked about I bet you are thinking. “Hey. I don’t go through all of these steps, I just automatically understand what is going on.”
Well technically you are right! Humans are limited in their capacity to take in and process information, their minds have developed a dual approach to handling a wide variety of tasks

10. Dual Processing in Perception
A few things that are processed in our subconscious mind
Automatic Processing: a fast, top down, subconscious approach to perceiving that draws on previous experience to make sense out of what we are now encountering
Heuristics: rules of thumb for how something is to be viewed based on our past experience with similar stimuli
Conscious Processing: a slow, deliberate approach to perceiving during which we examine and think about the stimuli

11. Interpretation
As your brain attends to, selects, and organizes the stimuli it receives from the senses, it also interprets this information by assigning meaning to it
For example: look at the following three sets of numbers A B C

12. Interpretation
If you are used to seeing similar sets of numbers every day, then you probably interpreted that:
A, was a telephone number
B, was a social security number
C, was a credit card number
Your ability to interpret these numbers depends on your familiarity with the patterns
A French person may not recognize as a phone number since the pattern for phone numbers in France is

13. Questions 1. What is the definition of Social Perception?
2. What is the definition of Perception?
What is the definition of Simplicity?
What is the definition of Expectations
5. What is the definition of Automatic Processing?

14. Answers
The set of processes by which people perceive themselves and others.
The process of attending to, organizing, and interpreting the information that we receive through our senses
The reduction of very complex stimuli to easily recognizable forms
Things we notice because we are accustomed to noticing them
A fast, top down, subconscious approach to perceiving that draws on previous experience to make sense out of what we are now encountering

15. Perceiving Others

16. Reducing Uncertainty
Uncertainty Reduction Theory - A way to explain how individuals monitor their social environments to know more about themselves and others
Pretty much we try to predict what people do. This makes us more comfortable, because there is less to be unsure about.
I.E. Meeting someone for the first time.

17. Reducing Uncertainty
People tend to make cultural level predictions based on stereotypes, which tend to be highly inaccurate.
More questioning needed, typically about jobs, school, where you live, what you do and what you like so we can get to know each other more in depth.

18. Reducing Uncertainty: The Need to know
Its not uncommon to search friends or crushes on the internet right?
We wish to understand and know each other, but this only comes with time and communication.

19. Impression Formation: Physical Appearance
Whether or not we like to admit it, the first thing we notice is appearances.
Its the easiest thing to acknowledge when trying to figuring someone out. Skin color, facial features, physique, clothing, and personal grooming are all things we notice.

20. Impression Formation: Implicit Personality Theory
Implicit Personality Theory- A belief that two or more personal traits or characteristics go together
I.E. A person who reads is smart and/or shy

21. Impression Formation: Assumed Similarity
People tend to think that if we are similar on one thing we must be similar on other things as well. Such as if we like the same movies we must like the same music as well.

22. Making Attributions
Attributions - Reasons we give for others’ and our own behavior
Situational Attribution - The perception that the cause of the behavior is some situation outside the control of the person
Dispositional Attribution - attributing behavior to some cause that is under the control of the person

23. Understanding and Overcoming Person Perception Biases
We have to get over former biases to fully understand someone, this means putting stereotypes aside and learning how people really act. Otherwise its very easy to create wrong impressions of people

24. Selection Perception
Distortion that arises from paying attention only to what we expect to see or hear and from ignoring what we don’t expect.
I.E. My girlfriend is friendly, not flirting

25. Stereotyping
- Applying the beliefs you have about the characteristics of a group to an individual whom you identify with as a member of that group.
The problem with stereotyping is that it is usually wrong, assumptions made about a group rarely reflect the truth about the majority or an individual.

26. Stereotyping
Prejudice - stereotyping a person based on the characteristics of a group to which the person belongs without regard to how the person to how the way the person may vary from group characteristics
Discrimination - Acting differently toward a person based on prejudice

27. Halo Effects
- A perceptual bias that occurs when we misperceive that a person has a whole set of related personality traits when only one trait has actually been observed
Halo effects tend to occur when
judging traits that we have limited experience with,
traits have strong moral overtones,
when its someone we think we know well

28. Forced Consistency
- The Perceptual bias in which we inaccurately interpret different perceptions of another person so that our interpretation of what we see remains consistent

29. Projection
- The perceptual bias that occurs when we incorrectly think someone who is like us in one respect will share other characteristics and attitudes

30. Fundamental Attribution Error
- The tendency to over attribute others’ negative behavior to their disposition and over attribute our own negative behavior to the situation

31. Improving Social Perceptions
Question the accuracy of your perceptions
Seek more information to verify perceptions
Choose to use conscious processing as you get to know people
Realize that your perceptions of a person will change over time
Use the skill of perception checking to verify your impressions.

32. Perception check
- Sharing your perception of another’s behavior to see if your interpretation is accurate

33. Self-Perception: Self-Concept and Self-Esteem
In this section we explain how self-concept, self-esteem, and overall self- perception are formed. We also discuss how your culture effects the types of self-perceptions you develop.

34. Self-perception is the overall view people have of themselves.
Self-concept is your perception of your competencies and personality traits.
Self-esteem is your evaluation of your perceived competence and personal worthiness.

35. Self-Concept
Your self concept comes from judgments you make about yourself based on past experiences and the way others react to you.
Your experiences are important to forming your self-concept. You cannot find out whether or not you’re good or bad at something until you have experience doing it

36. Your experience
If you ask a girl out for the first time and she rejects you, you may think its because you’re unattractive or not good enough.
But this can be changed the more you do it. If every girl after that first one says yes to you then your self-concept will change into being positive.

37. Feedback we receive from others
Reactions and response are likely to be more powerful when you respect the person making the comment or if you’re close to the person.
If your significant other tells you that you’re ugly, that is going to be more powerful than if some stranger says it to you.

38. Self-Esteem
Self-concept and self- esteem are different but both related.
Self-concept is our description of our competencies and personality traits while self- esteem is our positive or negative evaluation of our self-concept.

39. Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is not just about how good or bad we are at something but the importance or value we place on what we do well or poorly.
If you think you are a good piano player, a thoughtful person, and a faithful friend that is your self-concept. But if you think your personality traits are worthless then you have a low self-esteem.
In order to get a high self-esteem you would have to think the personality traits you have are good.

40. Self-Esteem
Others can influence your self-esteem too. If you’re good at basketball but your school praises the football team you will more than likely not be proud of your abilities.
Families play a huge role in self-esteem.

41. Culture and Self-Perceptions
How you think about yourself is a function of your culture.
In United States cultures people form more independent self-perceptions.
In cultures like Japan and China the form more interdependent self- perceptions

42. Culture and Self-Perceptions
People with Independent Self-Perception view their traits and abilities as internal and universally applicable to all situations.
People with Interdependent Self-Perception perceive their traits, abilities, and personality within the context of their relationships, with self-perception varying within the situation.

43. Accuracy of Self-Concept and Self-Esteem
All of us experience success and failure and we all hear praise and criticism.
If your main focus is on successful experiences and positive responses, your self-concept may become over developed and your self-esteem inflated and vice versa.

44. Self-fulfilling Prophecies
Self-Fulfilling Prophecies are events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about.
They may be self-created or other-imposed.
Research has found that people who expect rejection are more likely to behave in ways that lead other to reject them.

45. Filtering Messages
Filtering messages is the tendency to attend to messages that reinforce what we already think of ourselves and to downplay or not register messages that contradict this image

46. Improving Self-Perception
At times, comments that contradict self- fulfilling prophecies will get past the filter and begin to transform your self-perceptions.
Over the course of your life your self-concept and self-esteem may change

47. The Effects of Self-Perception on Communication
Your self-perception shapes your communication in a variety of ways.
It informs you how to talk to yourself, how to talk about yourself with others, how you talk about others to yourself, and how you communicate with others.

48. Self-Perception Influences How You Talk To Yourself
Self-Talk is communicating with yourself through your thoughts.
If we feel good about ourselves, that is, if we have positive self-esteem, then our self-talk is likely to be more accurate.
If we have negative self-esteem then our self-talk is likely to be distorted and negative.

49. Review

50. What does Self-Concept Mean?
A. the overall view people have of themselves
B. your perception of your competencies and personality traits.
C. your evaluation of your perceived competence and personal worthiness

51. What is Independent Self-Perception
A. Self-perception in which people perceive their traits, abilities, and personality within the context of their relationships
B. Events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about.
C. Self-perception in which people view their traits and abilities as internal and universally applicable to all situations

52. What is Filtering Messages?
A. the tendency to attend to messages that reinforce what we already think of ourselves and to downplay or not register messages that contradict this image
B. your evaluation of your perceived competence and personal worthiness
C. Events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about.

53. What are Self-Fulfilling Prophecies?
A. the overall view people have of themselves
B. Events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about.
C. your evaluation of your perceived competence and personal worthiness

54. What is Interdependent Self-Perception
A. Self-perception in which people view their traits and abilities as internal and universally applicable to all situations
B. your perception of your competencies and personality traits
C. Self-perception in which people perceive their traits, abilities, and personality within the context of their relationships

55. Human Factors in Using Social Media
Online Communication Attitude
A collection of cognitive and affective orientations that may foster or inhibit a person’s tendency to engage in digital communication.
In this lesson we will be discussing the factors that may influence our attitude to Online Communication.

56. 5 Factors That Influence Our Attitude
Digital Self-Disclosure
Digital Social Connection
Convenience
Digital Apprehension
Miscommunication

57. Digital Self Disclosure
A tendency to reveal and conceal private information in digital settings versus other contexts.
How much do you share?

58. Digital Social Connection
A tendency to use social media to maintain connection with others.
Our attitude towards social media is different than our parents or grandparents because we understand social media differently.
Instead of mail, we grew up using social media. So, we tend to use social media before mail because we understand it better.

59. Convenience
Social media has become extremely convenient. It keeps us connected with family and friends no matter how far away you are.
Social networking is more common with younger generations because it is easier to navigate. Meaning it is easier for us to use social media then someone who has just started, like our parents.

60. Miscommunication
Misinterpretations associated with deriving meaning from a digital message.
Miscommunications happen daily and lead to hurt feelings and arguments. Miscommunication in text messages could change someone’s attitude about texting.

61. Review

62. What does Digital Apprehension mean?
A. Unfamiliar with the technology
B. Nervousness communicating through social media
C. Misinterpretation

63. Name 1 factor that may influence Online Communication Attitude.

64. What best describes Online Communication Attitude?
A. A tendency to reveal and conceal private information.
B. A tendency to use social media to maintain connection with others.
C. A tendency to engage in digital communication.

65. What does Digital Social Connection mean?
A. A tendency to reveal and conceal private information.
B. A tendency to use social media to maintain connection with others.
C. A tendency to engage in digital communication.

66. What does Digital Self Disclosure mean?
A. A tendency to reveal and conceal private information.
B. A tendency to use social media to maintain connection with others.
C. A tendency to engage in digital communication.

67. Test

68. Questions 1. What is the definition of Social Perception?
2. What is the definition of Perception?
What is the definition of Simplicity?
What is the definition of Expectations
5. What is the definition of Automatic Processing?

69. What does Self-Concept Mean?
A. the overall view people have of themselves
B. your perception of your competencies and personality traits.
C. your evaluation of your perceived competence and personal worthiness

70. What does Digital Self Disclosure mean?
A. A tendency to reveal and conceal private information.
B. A tendency to use social media to maintain connection with others.
C. A tendency to engage in digital communication.

71. What is Interdependent Self-Perception
A. Self-perception in which people view their traits and abilities as internal and universally applicable to all situations
B. your perception of your competencies and personality traits
C. Self-perception in which people perceive their traits, abilities, and personality within the context of their relationships

72. QUESTIONS What is the Uncertainty Reduction Theory?
What is Implicit Personality Theory?
What is the difference between Situational Attribution and Dispositional Attribution?
What is the difference between Prejudice and Discrimination?
What is Projection?

73. What is Independent Self-Perception
A. Self-perception in which people perceive their traits, abilities, and personality within the context of their relationships
B. Events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about.
C. Self-perception in which people view their traits and abilities as internal and universally applicable to all situations

74. What is Filtering Messages?
A. the tendency to attend to messages that reinforce what we already think of ourselves and to downplay or not register messages that contradict this image
B. your evaluation of your perceived competence and personal worthiness
C. Events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about.

75. What does Digital Apprehension mean?
A. Unfamiliar with the technology
B. Nervousness communicating through social media
C. Misinterpretation

76. What are Self-Fulfilling Prophecies?
A. the overall view people have of themselves
B. Events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about.
C. your evaluation of your perceived competence and personal worthiness

77. What does Digital Social Connection mean?
A. A tendency to reveal and conceal private information.
B. A tendency to use social media to maintain connection with others.
C. A tendency to engage in digital communication.

78. Name 1 factor that may influence Online Communication Attitude.

79. What best describes Online Communication Attitude?
A. A tendency to reveal and conceal private information.
B. A tendency to use social media to maintain connection with others.
C. A tendency to engage in digital communication.